HORIZON NEWS - 13.07.2018

Smooth sailing for young people on Anglesey thanks to Horizon Nuclear Power

School children from across Anglesey are learning new boating and sailing skills this summer, thanks to community investment funding from Horizon Nuclear Power.

Horizon has awarded funding support to All Afloat, a charity established by staff from Royal Yachting Association Cymru Wales that aims to transform the lives of young people through the core skills learned from boating and sailing.

While Anglesey has a coastline measuring around 130 miles, many young people are not given the opportunity to take up sailing as a hobby and learn key skills such as boat safety, steering and how to sail. Sailing can also promote confidence, team work and self-reliance, and lead to a variety of careers.

To ensure as many children as possible can take part in the activities, the charity recently applied to Horizon’s Community Investment Scheme for further funding towards the programme to secure future events. Over the summer a number of sailing activities will take place in Holyhead, culminating at the Royal Yachting Association’s OnBoard Festival at Bala Lake in Gwynedd in September.

The activities take place as Wales celebrates the ‘Year of the Sea’, a campaign launched by Visit Wales to highlight the beauty and importance of the 870-mile Welsh coastline, making 2018 the perfect time to get out on the water and learn more about sailing.

Sasha Davies, Head of Strategic Development Wales at Horizon,said: “We’re very excited to be involved in this programme. The sea plays such an important part in the lives of people on Anglesey and it’s great to be involved in a sport that gives young people the chance to develop new skills in a safe and supportive environment, which they could use throughout their lives.”

Philip Braden, Trustee of All Afloat, said: “We’re especially grateful to Horizon for its support. Without investment from local businesses and organisations we wouldn’t be able to offer these activities, and ultimately future generations would miss out on vital life skills. We’re already anticipating a busy summer of activities, which will see more than 150 local children take to the water across North Wales.”

Horizon’s Community Investment Scheme continues to support organisations and projects across Anglesey and North Wales, and has invested more than £270,000 since 2014.

Horizon Nuclear Power was formed in 2009 to develop new nuclear power stations in the UK. The company was acquired by Hitachi Ltd of Japan in November 2012.

Horizon’s development on Anglesey will represent a multibillion pound investment in North Wales, creating high-quality, long term employment opportunities and unlocking lasting economic and social benefits for the region.